Ice chute



June 16, 1925.

J. ALESSANDRO ICE CHUTE Filed Aug. 16', ,1924 2 Sheets-Shee'i XNVENTOR $174 56 Sfi/VORO ATTORNEYS June 16, 1925.

J. ALESSANDRO ICE CHUTE 2 Sheets-Shea:

XNVENTOR m D m mju W W 6 M/ w J Filed Aug. 16, 1924 Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACK ALESSANDRO, OF WACO, TEXAS.

ICE cnfu'rn.

Application filed August 16, 1924. Serial No. 732,479.

be operated from the exterior of the build-- ing whereby a closure at the discharge end 'of the chute is simultaneously operated in conjunction with a device for releasing and for forcing a block of ice through the chute and through the opening in a wallso that the ice is discharged readily from the plant without requirin the salesman at the plant to enter the building in order to obtain a piece of ice.

A further ob'ect of the invention is the provision of a evice for automatically discharging a predetermined quantity of ice from a refrigerating plant and which is operated from a platform outside of the building, thus elimlnating the usual opening and closin of doors to the refrigerating plant where y warm air is admitted to the same causing a loss of refrigeration. v

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing formin a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a wide elevation of an auto matic chute as applied to a refrigerating plant.

Figure 2 is a View in perspective showing the operating mechanism of the chute.

Figure 3 is a side view of the chute as a plied to a refrigerating plant showing the c osure in open position with the chute discharging a block of ice. 1

Figure 4 is a plan view of the chute.

Referring more particularly to the draw in 1 designates a wall havinga platform 2 fiom which the ice is delivered to the customers. The wall is provided with a passage 3 through which the ice is discharged onto the platform. The floor 4 of the interior of the refrigerating plant is adapted to support a pair of longitudinal beams 5 and 6 upon which is mounted an inclined platform 7. The blocks of ice 8, 9 and 10 are ada ted to slide u on the platform and be disc arged throug the opening when they are released in a manner which will be presently described. The beams 5 and 6 are maintained at an acute angle to the floor 4 and are supported in their inclined position by means of bars 11 connected to the horizontal bars 12 which are secured to the floor of the building.

A pair of side walls '13 are secured to the longitudinal edges of the inclined platform 7 and a cover 14 is provided adjacent the outer end'of the chute.

The forward ends of the side walls 13, as shown at 15, is cut ofi at an angle and project into the passage 3 of the wall 1 upon which is ada ted to rest a cover 16 so that the chute is c osed to prevent the loss of cold air from the storage room 17 and at the same time to prevent the entrance of warm air to the refrigerating plant.

A casing having a top 18 and side walls 19 completely encloses the forward end-of the chute and the movable cover 16 to revent the loss of cold air around the sldes and above the forward end of the chute where the chute is connected with the passage 3. Thus the only time that cold air is ermitted to escape is when the cover 16 is momentarily raised for permitting the discharge of a block of ice from the chute.

To the forward end of the beam 5, as

with a shaft 25 mounted in hearings at the upper forward end of the chute. The closure 16 for the forward end of the chute is rigidiy connected with the shaft 25 so that as the shaft is rocked the cover will be raised or lowered as the case may he.

A link 26 is pivotally connected with the lever 21 below the linlr 23 and also haspivotal connections as showns at 27 with a rock lever 21 and a rock arm 24 which is rigid 'the sliding movement of the blocks of ice.

A second link 35 connects the rock arm 30 at the opposite side of its pivotal point 29 with a second dog 36 which likewiseis connected with a shaft 37 mounted in bearings 38 carried by the beams 5 and 6. The dogs 32 and 36 are adapted to be moved up- ,wardly through openings in the platform 7- and engage a block of ice as shown in.

Figure 3.

As shown more particularly in Figure 2 arms 39 are provided which are rigid with the shaft 25 and the closure 16 is secured to such arms so that by the rocking of the shaft 25 the closure is likewise rocked to open or closed position.

The pair of angle irons or beams 12 are connected by spacing bolts and sleeves 40. The pair of angle irons or beams 5 and 6 are connected by spacing bolts and sleeves 41. It will be seen from Figure 2 that the inner ends of the beam 12 is integrally connected as at 42 to beam'5 while the other beam '12 is connected with beam 6 as shownat 42 at the forward end of the chute.

The operation of my device is as follows:

Blocks of ice are supplied by an attendant within the refrigeratlng chamber 17 and placed upon the inclined platform 7 until the forward block of ice moves down and engages the dog 32 which is elevated above the platform 7, the dog 36 being located below the platform. At this time the trap door 16 is closed. When it is desired to 1 lease a cake of ice the rod 22 is pulled through the handle 44 whence the shaft 25 is simultaneously rocked through the lever 21 for opening the door 16 and simultaneously with the movement of the link 23 and 26 the dog 32 is depressed below the latform while the do 36 is elevated. The owering of dog 32 re eases a block of ice while the elevation of dog 36 urges the block of ice forwardly to the platform 2 and at the same time the dog 36 is in position, by reason of its elevation, to engage the next block of ice 9 and maintain it against b ing discharged through the passage 3..

As soon as the rod 22 is moved inwardly the shaft 25 is rocked in the opposite direction so that the door 16 is closed. The inward movement of the rod 22 also causes an inward movement of the links 23 and 26 thereby elevating do 32 and depressing dog 36. The block 0 ice 9 which has been retained in position by the dog 36 slides through the opening 3 to the platform 2.

It will be seen by my im roved mechanism that ice may be readlly discharged with a momentary opening of the closure 16 so that very little loss of cold air is had from the refrigerating chamber 17 and any 78 number of chutes may be employed in parallel relation before similar openings to the opening 3 for discharging greater quantities of ice and the dogs 32 and 36 may be so spaced and s0 regulated in size that smalle pieces of ice may be discharged from other chutes,

What I claim is:.

1. In an ice chute, an'inclined platform, means for holding a block of ice on the platform against sliding movement, a casing embracingthe platform and having an opening permitting. discharge of the me, a closure for said opening, and means for operatively connecting the closure with the holding means whereby when the closure is open the holding means will be released to permit the block of iceto slide downwardly on the platform and outwardly through the opening.

2. In a storage refrigerator having a discharge opening in its wall, an inclined platform having an end projectin into the opening, a casing cooperating wit said platform to form a chute, a closure for the forward or projecting end of the chute, a pair of cooperating dogs, one of said dogs causing holding of the blocks of ice and the other dog causing moving of the blocks of ice along the platform and for holding subsequent blocks, and means adapted to be operated from the exterior of the refrigerating chamber for simultaneously opening the door and for alternately elevating and lowering the dogs relative to the inclined platform.

3. In an ice chute, an inclined platform, a

pair of coo crating dogs for holding and moving the locks of ice along the latform with one do projecting upwardly In said platform while the other dog is depressed, means for alternately de ressing one dog below the platform and or simultaneously projecting the other dog above said platform, a casing enclosing the latform and having an opening at the disc arge end of the same, a door for closing said opening, means connectin the door with the'operating means for og in such a manner that when one dog is elevated the door will be opened and when the other dog is elevated the door'will be closed.

4. In a storage refrigerator having a discharge opening, an inclined platform, a pair of cooperating dogs, one of said dogs causing holding of the blocks of ice and the other dog causing moving of the blocks of ice along the platform, and means. for alternately depressing one dog below the platform and for projecting the other dog above said platform, said means comprising a lever, an oscillating bar, links connecting the oscillating bar with the dogs, and means connecting the lever with the oscillating bar for rocking the same and for alternate- 1y moving the dogs in opposite directions,

a closure for said opening, and means connecting the operating means for the ,dogs with the door whereby when said door is open the dogs will be operated to cause the block of ice to be discharged through said opening.

5. In a storage refrigerator having a discharge opening in its wall, an inclined platform having an end adjacent the opening, a

casing embracing the opening and the lower end of the platform, a door mounted within the casing and adapted to normally close the inner end of the casing to prevent the circulation of air between the outside and the in.-

side of the refrigerator, means mounted on I the platform for moving one block of ice and for holding a second block in position, and means connected with the door and operated by the means for actuating the moving and holding means for the ice for simula casing embracing the opening and the lower end of the platform, a door mounted within the casing and adapted to normally close the inner end of the casing to prevent the circulation of air between the outside and the inside of the refrigerator, means mounted on the platform for moving one block of ice and for holding a second block in position, means connected with the door and operated by the means for actuating the moving and holding'means for the ice for simultaneously opening the door, and means upon the exterior of the wall and connected with the operating means for the door when actuated for causing actuation of the operating means for the door.

7. In an ice chute, an inclined platform, said platform being provided with openings, dogs pivotally connected with the platform and adapted to be alternately projected through the openings and extended above the level of the platform, a lever pivotally mounted on the platform, a rock arm ivotally mounted intermediate its ends, links connectingthe dogs to the rock arm upon opdogs. 8. In an ice chute, an inclined platform, said platform being provided with openings, dogs pivotally connected with the platform and adapted to be alternately projected through the openings and extended above the level of the platform, a lever pivotall mounted on the platform, a rock arm pivota ly mounted intermediate its ends, links connecting the dogs to the rock arm upon opposite sides of the pivot of said arm, means connecting the rock arm with the lever whereby operation of the lever will cause alternately elevation and depression of the dogs, a casing embracing the discharge end of the platform, a closure for the outer end of the casing, and means connecting the door with the lever whereby movement of the lever causes closing or opening of the door.

Aug. 5, 1924.

JACK ALESSANDRO.

"alternately elevation and depression of the v 

